The life of the married women was usually a continual round of household duties. They spun and wove cloths of wool in the cold country, and of cotton in the warmer regions. Each one worked for herself, and for her husband and family. They did not sew much, because the clothes worn both by men and women had few seams. All they wove was first twisted, both wool and cotton. All the cloths, as many as they wanted to make, were taken from four selvages; and they did not have the warp longer than was required for each mantle or shirt. The vestments were not cut out, but were entire, just as the cloth came from the frame; for before they began to weave, they settled the required length and breadth, more or less.

There were neither tailors, shoemakers, nor hosiers, among these Indians; for they had no need of the things used by us, and did without them. The women looked after the clothing belonging to the house, and the men took care of the shoes; for, as we explained, in the account of arming a knight, they had to know how to make sandals, and even the Yncas of the blood royal and the Curacas had servants who made sandals. Nor did they themselves disdain, now and then, to practise making them, as well as all kinds of arms required in their employment as knights; for they took much delight in observing their statutes. In the work of the field both men and women were engaged in helping one another.